Nut-lock for rail-joints.



No. 747,233. PATENTED DEU- 15, 1903.- G. B. RUSH.

NUT LOCK FOR RAIL JOINTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

ITEM STATES Patented December 15, 1903.

CHARLES E. RUSH, OF MAGIC, PENNSYLVANIA.

NUT-LOCK FOR RAIL-JOHNTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,233, dated December 15, 1903.

Application filed September 1, 1903 Serial No. 171,496. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. RUSH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Magic, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locks for Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relatesto certain new and useful improvements in nut-locks for rail- ;joints, the object of the invention being to provide means for securely locking the nuts and also securely providing a continuous tread at the joint.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a fish-plate which is provided with an overhanging portion forming a way or groove into which the upper edge of the lockplate is adapted to engage, this lock-plate having openings to receive burs or nuts on the bolts which fasten the fish-plate to the rails. I preferably construct the fish-plate with an overhanging portion of a height whereby its upper edge will be flush with the tread of the rail, and thereby form practically a continuous rail at the joint.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in

g which Figure l is a transverse sectional view of the rail, showing my device applied in full lines and in dotted lines showing the manner in which the lock-plate is inserted. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts in position. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view. Figs. 4 and 5 are detached detail perspective views of the fish-plate and lock-plate, respectively. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of a rail, showing a modified form of device in end view. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same. Figs. 8 and 9 are detached detail perspective views of this modified form of construction.

To put my invention into practice, I employ an ordinary fish-plate 1 on the inside of the rails2 at the joint between the rails. The fish-plate 3 at the outer side of the rails has an upright or vertical portion conforming to the upright or verticalportion of the fish-plate l; but above the point where this fish-plate engages the underneath face of the rail-tread the fish-plate is struck or bent. out to form the web 4, which lies out of alinement with the body 3 and engages the outer face of the rail-tread. This upwardly-extending portion is bent over to form the tread 5 and then bent down to form the overhanging portion 6, the space 7 between the overhanging portion 6 and the web 4 being adapted to receive the upper portion 8 0f the lock-plate 9. This lock-plate 9 is provided with a base-flange 10, which takes the place of the flange on the fish-plate, and the web of the iock-plate is provided with square or other-shaped openings ll to receive the nuts 12, that hold the bolts 14: in position. Openings 15 are provided in the plate 3 for these bolts to pass through, which openings register with openings 11 and with openings in the web of the rail and those in the fish-plate 1. The space 7 between the overhanging portion 6 is of sufficient width to permit the insertion of the part- 8 of the lock-plate into said space, after which the said lock-plate is closed against the fish-plate 3, whereby to engage nuts in the openings 11. The part 8 of the lock-plate is struck out, so as to lie out of vertical alinement with the apertured portion of said plate, and therefore conform to the shape of the fish-plate 3.

In Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, I show a modified form of construction in which the fish-plate 3 is bent out at a point below the tread of the rail and has an overhanging portion 6, forming a groove 7' between the same and the fish-plate 3. In this construction the space 7 receives the upper edge of the lockplate 9, which is provided with a nut-receiving opening ll and has a base-flange 10'. In either form of construction the lock-plate is secured in position by means of the spikes 15, engaging into the cross-ties and with the edge of the base of the loclcplate. After the fish-plates have been secured in position by the bolts the lock-plate is then placed in positiou so that the nuts will be received in the openings in the lock-plate, and this lock-plate is then secured by spikes 15.

While I have herein shown and described my invention as it is practiced by me, yet it will be evident that various slight changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A device of the type set forth comprising a fish-plate having its upper portion bent outwardly to engage the underneath face of the rail-tread, said upper portion being continued outwardly at a substantial right angle and then downwardly forming an overhanging portion, a lock-plate having a series of apertures therein to receive the ends of the bolts for fastening the fish-plates to the rails, said plate being engaged at its upper end by said overhanging portion, and having its inner face contacting with the outer face of the said fish-plate and the rail-base, the base of said locking-plate extending over the base and provided with a downwardly-extending portion to engage the ties, with spikes abutting against said down weirdly-extending portion of the locking-plate, and having their heads seating on the base thereof, said overhanging portion of the fish-plate extending for a distance below the upper end of the said lockingplate, the said locking-plate completely inolosing the said nuts.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

- CHARLES B. RUSH. Witnesses:

A. FLEEGER, J. O. GAISFORD. 

